Dance with Indonesian culture

Windhoek was alive with Indonesian traditional dance, music, food and folklore at the inaugural ‘Harmony of Nusantara – The Colours of Indonesia’ at the National Theatre of Namibia (NTN) on Thursday.

Presented by the embassy of Indonesia in Windhoek, the cultural event was the first large-scale Indonesian embassy showing of its kind.

It featured musical delegates from Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia, Bandung, the Indonesian embassy and community, as well as Ombetja Yehinga Organisation (OYO) dance troupe, students from the University of Namibia, Lize Ehlers and The Ells.

‘Nusantara’ means archipelago, and Indonesia is the largest archipelagic country in the world. The country consists of over 17 000 islands, 275 million people, 1 300 ethnic groups and more than 700 regional languages.

Bahasa Indonesia is the unifying language that facilitates communication among the diverse ethnic groups.

“Indonesia is rich with culture. It is estimated that Indonesia has more than 1 700 intangible cultures and 3 000 traditional dances,” said Indonesia’s ambassador to Namibia, Wisnu Edi Pratignyo, in his opening speech which noted deputy executive director for lifelong learning, arts and culture Gerard Vries as a guest of honour.

“For instance, Bali is renowned for its intricate dance forms and spirituality, while Sumatra is known for its music and oral traditions,” said Pratignyo.

“This cultural diversity contributes to Indonesia’s dynamic identity, making it a fascinating and multifaceted nation,” he said.

Offering just a glimpse of Indonesia’s treasure trove of song and dance, ‘Harmony of Nusantara’ was hosted by the vibrant duo Whilzahn Gelderbloem and Ashwyn Mberi.

The evening’s offering sampled cultural dances from several areas of Indonesia, including Aceh, West Sumatera, Jakarta, West Java, East Java and Kalimantan.

For those lucky enough to secure one of over 400 free tickets to the fully booked show, the evening was an exciting whirl of colour, music and mesmerising traditional dance.

Kicking off with an enthralling Balinese dance performance by the Indonesian ambassador’s wife, Anti Riantini Pratignyo, the showing treated audiences to the thrill of witnessing Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia Bangdung’s dazzling continental debut.

The wonderfully talented Bandung-based arts group flew thousands of kilometres to participate in the special cultural event.

Bandung is also the city where the first Asia-Africa Conference was held in 1955.

On the homefront, the passionate OYO dance troupe must be commended for learning a number of Indonesian traditional dances, while the University of Namibia earned applause for its Indonesian gamelan (traditional ensemble music).

Featured cultural instruments also included the Indonesian angklung, Sundanese harp, Sundanese trumpet, the suling and the two-headed drum.

Ehlers’ operatic rendition of ‘Alusi Au’, a traditional Batak song, and The Ells’ take on ‘Rame-Rame’, an Ambon folk song about togetherness, were also highlights.

Solo Indonesian dance and song performances by Anti Riantini, Diana Rosca, Qanita Diana, Dyah Ariastuti and Muhammad Rifky Padilla were similarly sparkling.

“As part of cultural diplomacy and on the occasion of the 79th Anniversary of the Independence Day of Indonesia, this event embodies our dedication to building strong, lasting relationships based on mutual respect and shared values.

“It highlights the power of culture as a bridge that connects people, fostering dialogue and understanding across borders,” said Pratignyo, whose term as Indonesian ambassador to Windhoek comes to a close this year.

“We hope to create a legacy of friendship and collaboration that will endure for years to come,” he said.

“Tonight’s performance is my gift to Namibia. As I bid you farewell, I do so with a heart full of gratitude and memories that will last a lifetime.”

– martha@namibian.com.na; Martha Mukaiwa on Twitter and Instagram; marthamukaiwa.com